Apparatus for stretching bed-springs.



N0. 7|0,545. Patented Oct. 7, [902.

J. WATERS. APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING BED SPRINGS.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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/ M43228 j W A, wfl'eazon UNITED STATES PATENT Genres.

PATRICK J. \VATERS, OF BRISTOL, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR STRETOHING BED-SPRINGS.

SPECZFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 710,545, dated October 7, 1902.

Application filed December 11. 1901. Serial No. 85.490. (No model.)

To (all 1071/0727 it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. WATERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bristol, county of Bucks, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Stretching Bed-Springs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in apparatus for stretching bed-springs, and has for its object to provide an apparatus of this description by which the bed-spring can be stretched upon the bedstead in the house in which it is to be used, or the apparatus can be used for stretching the spring in a factory in place of the power apparatus now used.

\Vith these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled. in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detaihreferring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bedstead, showing my apparatus applied thereto and in the operation of stretching a spring. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofrthe stretching apparatus, showing the same partially folded. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus folded.

In the drawings, A represents a cross-bar which is divided in the middle and the two parts hinged together at the point B; but this division of the cross-bar is only made when it is desired to make an apparatus portable to be carried from house to house in stretching springs or when it is desired to store the same away in compact form. The bar A would probably be made in one piece when used in a factory or store. For the purpose of binding the two parts of the bar together in a straight line when in use I provide a metallic strap 0, which is hinged to one bar at one end, and the other end of the strap 0 is adapted to hook over a threaded bolt D in the opposite member of the bar A, and then a thumb-nut E may be threaded upon the bolt, so as to bind against the strap 0 and hold the same in place.

F represents screw-threaded rods passing through smooth holes formed through the bar A, near each end thereof, and these screwthreaded rods have formed upon their ends the flat hooks G. Upon the threaded ends of the rods F, which protrude beyond the bar A, are threaded the nuts II, which have the double cranks I secured to the same and extending outward therefrom to furnish means for turning the nuts.

In operation one of the end rails J of the spring-frame is bolted at each end to the side rails of the spring-bed, which lies upon the bed-frame, one end of the woven spring being attached to this end rail, and the other end rail J, having the other end of the woven spring attached thereto, is pulled toward the opposite end of the bed as far as possible by underneath the end rail J near each end thereof, and the bar A will extend across the bedstead upon the outside and hear at each end against the posts of the bedstead, pads K being provided upon each end of the bar to prevent the marring of the bedstead where it comes in contact with the same. Now by turning the nuts H upon the screw-threaded rods F by means of the double crank I the loose end rail J can be gradually drawn toward this end of the bedstead, because of the fact that the side rails of the spring-frame will abut against the inside of the posts of the bedstead, and thus be held stationary. The nuts H are turned upon the rod F until the loose end rail is drawn a sufficient distance so that the bolt-holes L in the end rail will register with the bolt-holes M in the side rail of the spring-frame. Then by passing bolts through these two sets of bolt-holes and securing the same by nuts the spring will be held in its stretched position. If desired, a number of holes could be provided in the side rails, so as to give the spring different degrees of tension or tighten the spring after the same has become loosened through wear.

The description above cited applies to the use of the apparatus in a dwelling; but when used in a store or factory it would of course not be necessary to use the same upon abedstead, but a rectangular frame having two hand, and then the flat hooks G are hooked.

posts at the end would probably be provided, and the cross-bar could then, if desired, be permanently attached to the outside of the posts.

It is now customary to stretch all wovenwire springs in the factory and ship them to the wholesaler or retailer in a stretched condition; but springs in this shape take up considerable space in proportion to their weight in freight-cars, &c., and are very inconvenient to handle, and the retailer necessarily has to sell and deliver the springs also in a stretched condition, which are very awkward to handle in the delivery-wagon, and in small houses it is sometimes impossible to get a large-size spring through the doorway.

The advantage of my invention is that the springs can be shipped from the factory only attached to the end rails and could be rolled up into a compact bundle and the side rails tied together and shipped separately. This would allow for many more springs to be carried in a freight-car and also be much more convenient to handle and would save considerable in the freight. Then the retailer or wholesaler could with my apparatus stretch the springs in the store.

By making the cross-bar A in two parts and hinging the parts together the apparatus can be made portable, so as to be conveniently carried in a Wagon or stored in a comparatively small space. Thus when the springs are delivered to the dwelling and it is found that the same are too large to be taken through the doorway or window my apparatus can be used to release the tension of the springs, so as to detach them from the side bars, and after they have been conveyed into the dwelling my apparatus can be again used to stretch them upon the bedstead, and this would allow for the largest-size spring to be taken through a very small doorway or window.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the tact with the outside of the bed-post, pads provided upon each end of the cross-bar where the same comes in contact with the posts, screw-threaded rods passing through holes formed through the cross-bar, fiat hooks formed upon the inner end of the screwthreaded rods, nuts threaded upon the outer end of the screw-threaded rods outside of the cross-bar, double cranks connected to the nuts to facilitate the turning of the same, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a cross-bar adapted to contact the bed-posts upon the outside, pads provided upon each end of the cross-bar where the same comes in contact with the posts, said crossbar being divided and the different members hinged together, means for holding the different members together rigidly to prevent the cross-bar from folding while in use, screwthreaded rods passing through holes formed through the cross-bar, flat hooks provided upon the inner end of said screw-threaded rods, nuts threaded upon the outer end of said screw-threaded rods outside of the cross-bar, and means for conveniently turning said nuts by hand, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PATRICK J. WATERS.

Witnesses:

L. W. MORRISON, H. B. HALLOCK. 

